Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Chapter 20 Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Suicide or completed suicide The act of intentionally ending ones own life and opting for nonexistence Act of purposeful self destruction by taking ones own life Suicide attempt: includes all willful, self-inflicted, life threatening attempts that have not led to death Suicidal ideation means a person is thinking of self harm Always take a person seriously regarding suicidal ideation Physician assisted suicide Terminally ill
Prevalence and comorbidity Suicide is 11th leading cause of death in US 3rd leading cause of death in adolescents & young adults Majority of completed suicides have depression, alcohol/substance abuse Risk of suicide is 20x higher in MDD
Theories Freud developed the first psychiatric theory of suicide Menninger suggested that all suicides experience 3 emotions -revenge, depression and guilt Shneidman suggested that victims of suicide suffer psychological pain
Risk factors for suicide Poor problem solvers, troubled emotional lives (depression, anger, guilt, boredom) Biological Cluster in families; family history is pertinent Cultural and Societal Loss, lack of social supports, negative life events, and severe life stress Psychological Psychosis-high risk suicide Plan, previous attempt, hx depression, alcohol or substance abuse, impulsiveness, recent loss, hopelessness, family history Age: adolescents, young adults, older adults Gender: men at greater risk for suicide
Cultural considerations European Americans: 2x suicide rate of minority groups Native Americans equal to suicide rate of European Americans African American men commit suicide more often than women Asian Americans suicide risk increase with age
Application of nursing process
Application of nursing process Diagnosis Risk for suicide Outcomes and Identification Interventions to optimize factors to minimize self destructive events Work with pts to explore alternatives, problem solve Implementation Treating depression, medication, family/community support, restrict lethal methods, screen for weapons Communication Guidelines/Psychotherapy Postvention: Intervention for family and friends of person who committed suicide